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Hmmm. An interesting course. Very relevant to mechanical (and structural) engineering. Unfortunately, the prof who instructed us was rather new at the game, was freakishly intelligent (which does not necessarily equate to being a good educator), and seemed to have a substance-abuse problem with caffeine that made Hunter S. Thompson look like a light-weight. Sitting in on one of these lectures was like trying to follow a hockey game on a 6-inch black-and-white TV played in fast-forward. It was a physical impossibility to follow what was being said during a lecture and take notes at the same time (see MECH 330). The text (Hibbeler), however, was very good. My edition came with a little study-pack, which was very useful. Every question from the assignments had a similar example that could be logically followed. One thing to take with you from this course is this: always do a free-body diagram. Any problem you encounter in mechanical engineering should first be approached with a free-body diagram. And don't just do one and continue on. Do one, look at it, then do another better one. Examine a problem from all possible angles (literally and figuratively). Perfect the free-body diagram. Become one with the free-body diagram. Adopt a Zen approach. All kidding aside, this is a very important class, and relevant to the rest of the courses you will take in your degree. I have my assignments and midterm on file, but since this course subsequently became MECH 141, I fear they may not be of much use. E-mail me, and I'll send you what I have. As an interesting aside, I was cutting through the Engineering Lab Wing (ELW) lobby on the way to my MECH 241 class the morning the World Trade Towers were attacked. I watched one of the towers crumble on live TV. There was a large group of students and staff gathered all around, watching silently. It was all so surreal. It's always stuck with me. I guess it's similar to how our parents/grandparents will always remember where they were when they heard that Jack Kennedy was shot - one of those moments in your life that you will never forget until the day you die. Jesus, how things have changed since that day... |
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